Google sets big investment of $390 mn in a data center in Belgium

The biggest Internet search domain Google Inc. is all set to invest $390 million ( 300 million euros) in expanding its Belgium data center. Google Inc. said Wednesday it will upgrade the facility in Belgium to meet growing demand for its online services.

Google’s significant investment says that Belgium is a key business destination, including for new technologies, said Elio Di Rupo, Belgian Prime Minister. “Although we’re going through difficult economic times, we keep attracting major investments from international companies.”

Google says the center currently has some 120 employees using around 50% less energy than typical data centers and is one of the most energy-efficient facilities of its kind.

“Belgium enjoys a unique position in the heart of Europe, well-developed infrastructure and a high-quality and productive workforce,” Mr. Di Rupo added. He’ll hope, with growth forecast to stagnate and the European Commission breathing down his bow-tied neck, that the good luck continues.

The information underpinning Google’s services _ Internet search requests, Gmail or YouTube _ is processed in industrial-scale data centers such as the Belgian plant in St. Ghislain southwest of Brussels. The company, based in Mountain View, California operates other data centers catering for the European market in Ireland and Finland.